Asphalt shingle roof and method of sealing



Feb. 15, 1966 l. M. BURTCH 3,234,701

ASPHALT SHINGLE ROOF AND METHOD OF SEALING Filed May 31, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ivan M. Burfeh 1N VEN TOR BYgv Atlornqs Feb. 15, 1966 I. M. BURTCH 3,234,701

ASPHALT SHINGLE ROOF AND METHOD OF SEALING Filed May 51, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 9

/ van M. Burfch [N VENTOR.

Feb. 15, 1966 1. M. BURTCH ASPHALT SHINGLE ROOF AND METHOD OF SEALING 3 sheets -sheet 5 Filed May 31, 1963 /20 Fig. /4

"m" 0% ,m, w HE Ivan M. Burfch United States Patent Cice 3,234,701 ASPHALT SHINGLE ROOF AND METHOD OF SEALING Ivan M. Burtch, Rte. 1, Box 124, West Branch, Mich. Filed May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 284,435 Claims. (Cl. 52-419) This invention relates to flexible roof coverings and more particularly to a method of installation and certain new and useful improvements thereof in a physical sense.

The present invention is concerned with the formation of a roof covering from a plurality of asphaltic-type of shingles, and deals with the problem of leakage or seepage of water through the roof covering as a result of the formation of an ice ridge along lower edge portions of the roof covering producing a back-up of Water from melting snow and ice. Although the type of roof covering to which the present invention relates, is usually adequate in preventing leakage of water during precipitation, the shingles which form the roof covering are not adequate to provide the sealing necessary to prevent seepage of water accumulating because of back-up. It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a method applicable to any type of asphaltic shingle roof covering whereby one may effectively seal the roof covering against seepage from water backed up along an ice ridge that forms along the lower portion of the roof as a result of precipitation during cold weather.

As another object of the present invention, asphaltictype of shingles utilized in the construction of a roof covering, are modified so that sealing in accordance with the method of the present invention, may be effected during installation of the roof covering.

The method of the present invention and the physical modification of the flexible shingles, are applicable to the various types of different shingles utilized for roof covering arrangements. The principles of the present invention are also applicable in connection with the modification of shingles adjacent flashings and roof valleys so as to form a continuous and efifective sealing barrier against water seepage. Thus, the method of the present invention involves the deposit of beads of adhesive material such as a plastic cement containing asphaltic and asbestos ingredients, not only to obtain adhesion between tab or flap portions of the flexible shingle and portions of underlying shingles but to also form the aforementioned continuous sealing barrier which is elfective to prevent water seep age not possible with the shingle sealing arrangement heretofore utilized. The shingles laid along a lower portion of a roof covering, are therefore notched along the edge portions thereof either by a special cutting tool or formed during manufacture of the shingles so that the head of adhesive material deposited on each shingle after installation will be interconnected through the slot to form a continuous sealing bead having no gaps therein through which water may seep.

The arrangement of the notches in the individual shingles is such as to permit the deposit of the sealing bead after installation for sealing and concealment thereof together with the notches regardless of the type of shingle and shingle arrangement utilized to form the roof covering. The particular arrangement of the sealing beads and their cooperative relationship to the notches in the shingles therefore produces a new and useful roof covering arrangement which successfully achieves the purposes of the present invention as hereinbefore indicated. This new and useful arrangement, also enables one to form the continuous and effective sealing barrier after installation of the roof covering, in a facilitated manner by practice of the method of the present invention.

Patented Feb. 15, 1966 These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial top plan view of a sealed section of one form of roof covering made in accordance with the principles of the present invention, with parts thereof broken away.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial breakaway view of a portion of the roof covering construction shown in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line '33 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a partial persepective view of a portion of the roof covering illustrated in FIGURE 1 during one phase of its installation.

FIGURE 5 is a partial breakaway view of the intersection of the roof covering with a roof flashing.

FIGURE 6 is a partial top plan view with parts broken away of the roof covering terminating at a valley.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of a section of a second form of roof covering with parts broken away.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged partial top plan view of a breakaway portion of the roof covering construction shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a shingle element utilized in the roof covering illustrated in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 11 is a partial perspective view showing one phase of the installation of the roof covering illustrated in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of a section of a third form of roof covering made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the roof covering illustrated in FIGURE 12 with parts broken away.

FIGURE 14 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 1414 of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a partial perspective view showing one phase of the installation of the roof covering illustrated in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 16 is a top plan view of a shingle element utilized in the roof covering illustrated in FIGURE 12.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, attention is initially invited toward the roof covering section generally referred to by reference numeral 10 shown in FIG- URES 1, 2, 3, and 4. The roof covering is formed by a plurality of flexible shingle elements of a type made of asphaltic material and which are commercially available. The lower sections 10 of the roof are however formed by shingles which are modified either before or after installation in accordance with the principles of the present invention, in order to cope with the water seepage problem arising from the formation of ice ridges at the lower edges of the roof producing a back-up of water due to the melting of ice and snow. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the section 10 of the roof covering is formed by a plurality of parallel courses, each course consisting of abutting shingle elements. For example, an intermediate course of shingle elements 12 will be disposed on a supporting roof surface 14 overlying a lower course of shingle elements 16 and underlying an upper course of shingle elements 18. Each shingle element is provided with an abutting edge 20 at opposite longitudinal ends thereof. Spaced between the longitudinal ends of each shingle element, are slots 22 which form lower flexible flap portions 24. The upper portion of each shingle element on the other hand, is secured to the supporting roof surface 14 by fastener elements such as nails 26 located adjacent to and spaced above the upper edges of the slots 22 while fasteners 28 are disposed in spaced adjacency to the upper edges 30 of the shingle element intermediate the spaced slots 22. Nails 32 are also disposed in spaced adjacency to the abutting edges 20 of the shingle element and spaced above the upper edge of the end cut-out portion 34 of each shingle, said cut-out portions 34 forming a slot 36 with adjacent cut-out portions of adjacent shingles.

The shingle element so far described, represents one of the type of shingles commonly utilized for roof covering. However, the shingles in accordance with the present invention, are provided with passage slots or notches 38 disposed in close spaced adjacency between the upper edge of the cut-out portion 34 and the nail fastener 32 along the lower portion of the abutting edge 20 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 2. As shown, the top edges 39 of the notches 38 converge downwardly by a slight amount. Deposited on a concealed top surface of each shingle element, and extending between the passage notches 38 thereof, is a continuous head of adhesive material 40. The bead 40 extends therefore from one notch below the fastener 32 upwardly toward the fastener 28 and then downwardly therefrom toward and below the fasteners 26 forming a continuous wavy line between the notches 38. In this manner, adhesive contact is established between an overlying flap portion of a shingle with an underlying portion of a shingle secured to the supporting roof surface by means of fasteners 32, 28 and 26. The beads 40 between abutting shingles are continuous since they meet at the notches 38 which are aligned between the abutting edges 20 to also form an opening passage therebetween. The continuous wavy bead formations of adjacent parallel courses of shingles will therefore contact each other at spaced points therealong through the passage openings formed by the notches 38 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3 and are preferably formed thicker between nail heads in order to resist stresses imposed thereon because of abrupt temperature changes tending to displace the shingles relative to each other when ice is formed on the roof.

The deposit of the adhesive bead 40 may therefore be easily achieved after the various courses of shingles are nailed to the supporting surface. The individual flap portions 24 as shown in FIGURE 4 may be raised to expose the concealed portion of the underlying shingles and the notches 38 if precut or to permit cutting of the notches close to the nails by a special cutting tool. A special caulking gun will also be utilized to deposit the beads 40 extending from the notches beginning with the upper courses of the shingles which form the section 10. A continuous sealing barrier is thereby formed inasmuch as there will be no gap between the sealing beads 40 through which water may seep. It will also be appreciated, that this continuous sealing barrier will be preserved because of the plastic nature of the beads even though there is separation between the abutting edges 20 of the shingles. Also, inasmuch as the notches 38 and the beads 40 are disposed just below the fastener nails, the flap portions may be raised to expose the surface on which the adhesive material is deposited as well as to enable cutting of notches 38 in perfect alignment by a single operation using the special cutting tool, where the notches have not been precut during manufacture of the shingles. Where a fastening element interferes with the cutting of the notches, the fastener must be removed and then replaced above the notches after cutting thereof.

Where the sealed roof covering section intersects and underlies a roof flashing or hip cap including the interleaved portions 42 as shown in FIGURE 5, the end shingle will be notched so as to form passage openings whereby the beads 40 may be connected to a continuous bead formation 44 disposed in parallel spaced relationship to the intersecting edge portion 46 of the flashing elements 42. For example, the end shingle element of the intermediate course of shingles 12, will be provided with a notch 48 at which the bead 40 terminates and through which the bead 40 is connected to the bead portion 50 deposited On the underlying surface of an end shingle of the course of shingles 16 interconnecting the notch 48 with the notch 52 on the flashing portion 42. A bead portion 54 therefore extends from the notch 52 of each element 42 parallel to the edges 46 and making a right angle just below the nail head 56 which secures each ele ment 42 to the supporting roof surface, the bead portion 54 then terminating at an intermediate portion of the flashing element 42 for adhesive contact with an overlying flashing element. Also extending from the notch 48 on the end shingle of the intermediate course 12, is a bead portion 58, disposed parallel to the edge portion 46 and terminating at a notch 60 so that it may be interconnected with the bead portion 62 extending between the notch 60 and the notch 64 on both the upper and under surfaces of the end shingles of the upper course of shingles 18. A notch 66 is also formed on the shingle 18 so as to complete a terminal end of the continuous bead formation 44 deposited on the end shingles of the three illustrated courses of shingles. In this manner, the continuous bead 40 associated with the various courses of shingles, may be terminated in the parallel bead formation 44.

Where the sealed section of the roof covering intersects a valley on the roof construction at a line 68 for example as shown in FIGURE 6, the end shingles of the various courses of shingles will be modified accordingly. Also, a shingle portion 70 will be secured in place by the fasteners 72 in abutting relation to the end shingle of the course of shingles 12 for example so that the end shingle may be provided with a notch 74 forming one end of bead portions 76 which is deposited both above and below the shingle portion 70 at an upper sealed shingle course, the other end of the bead portion terminating at the notch 78 for connection thereof to a sweep head portion 80 in order to form a continuous terminal end connected to the beads 40. Water from precipitation accumulating adjacent roof valleys and flowing in diagonal paths, is thereby prevented by the sweep portion 80 from entering behind the interleaved shingles of the upper sealed course. Also communicating with the bead 40 terminating at the notch 74, is a terminal bead portion 82 which extends from the notch 38 formed on the abutting end shingle portion 84 associated with the lower course of shingles 18. In this manner, each of the continuous beads 40 will terminate so as to preserve the continuous nature of the sealing barrier adjacent the valley intersection line 68. In a similar fashion, chimney flashings and flashings disposed about other projections from the roof structure may be sealed in continuous fashion with the sealing beads 40 of the shingles which happen to underlie the flashing.

In FIGURE 7, a roof covering section 86 is shown installed on the supporting roof surface 88, this roof covering being formed by a plurality of another type of shingle elements 98 with lock tabs 99 removed as shown in FIGURE 10. These shingles are also secured in parallel overlying courses including for example the intermediate course of shingles 90 overlying a lower course of shingles 92 and underlying an upper course of shingles 94. As more clearly seen in FIGURE 8, each of the shingles of one course are disposed in abutting relation to each other along edges 96. A concealed surface portion 98 of each shingle is defined between the edges 96 and the top edge 100. Extending from the concealed surface portion 98 is a flat portion 102 adapted to overlie and extend beyond the abutting edges of adjacent underlying shingles. Disposed in spaced adjacency to the lower end of the abutting edges 96, are passage notches 104. The notches 104 therefore form a passage opening between abutting edges 96 and just below the fasteners 106 which secure the shingles to the supporting surface 88 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 8 and 9.

When the shingles are secured to the supporting surface 88 by the nails 106, the fiat portion 102 of the shingles may be raised beginning with the upper courses as more clearly seen in FIGURE 11 so that a bead 108 of adhesive material may be deposited on the underlying concealed surfaces of the adjacent abutting shingles, extending from the passage notches 104 below the nail head 106. A continuous bead of sealing material is thereby formed between the notches 104 on the concealed surface 98 of each of the shingles. Also, a separate adhesive bead 110 may be deposited on the exposed surface of the shingle underlying the adjacent abutting shingles for adhesive contact with the portion of the flap 102 which projects beyond the abutting edges 96 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 8 and 11.

It will therefore be apparent, that the sealed roof covering section 86 is similar in structure and method of sealing to the roof covering section inasmuch as each shingle has deposited thereon a continuous adhesive bead which extends between the notches formed on the abutting edges of the shingles to form a continuous bead formation on each shingle course in contact with a continuous bead formation on a lower course of shingles at spaced locations therealong, contact being established through the passage openings formed by alignment of the notches on abutting edges of the shingles. The only difference between the sections 10 and 86 is the shape of the shingle element and their relationship. FIGURES 12 through 16 illustrate a third form of roof covering wherein the foregoing principles are applied to a case where the shingles do not abut but instead have spaced adjacent edge portions which are interconnected by overlapping portions of overlying shingles. Thus, the supporting roof surface 112 as illustrated in FIGURE 12, may be covered by the roof covering section 114 including for example an intermediate course of spaced shingles 116 which overlie a lower course of spaced shingles 118 and underlie an upper course of spaced shingles 120. Each of the shingles is provided with side edge portions 122 interconnected by a top edge 124 and a lower edge 126 having a pair of cut-outs 128 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 16. Disposed intermediate the ends of the side edges 122, are passage notches 130 which are disposed just below the location through which the nails 132 extend for securing the shingle to the supporting surface 112. Lock tabs ordinarily provided on this type of shingle are cut off in order to permit proper sealing. The portion of the shingles disposed above the notches 130, form a concealed surface portion 136 while the portions below the notches 130 form a flap portion 138 adapted to be raised as illustrated in FIGURE in order to deposit sealing beads 140 which extend between notches 130 of the underlying and overlying shingles. Also, exposed below the raised flap portion 138 between the spaced adjacent sides 122, is the concealed portion 136 of an underlying shingle such as the shingles of the course 118. A connecting bead 142 is therefore deposited on the concealed portion 136 of the underlying shingle between the confronting aligned notches 130 of the spaced sides 122 of adjacent shingles. It will also be apparent from FIGURE 13 in particular, that the notches 130 of an overlying shingle are aligned with the terminal end of a bead 140 on an underlying shingle with the beads 140 being interconnected by separately laid connecting beads 142 in order to form a continuous bead formation between the concealed surface portions-of the shingles when a shingle of the type illustrated in FIGURE 16, is utilized. It will therefore be apparent that the principles of the present invention are adaptable to roof coverings of the type wherein the shingles do not abut.

From the foregoing description, the method and shingle modification necessary for the practice of the invention will be apparent. In connection with the practice of the invention, it will be appreciated that cutting and sealing the shingles should be performed under moderate temperature conditions while the sealing beads must be of substantial dimension in order to obtain proper adhesion between the surfaces of the shingles and hence must also be in a soft plastic state for such purposes. It is also essential, that no gap appear in the bead formation. The roof edge sections of a roof covering modified and sealed in accordance with the present invention will therefore in no way effect its appearance and will prevent seepage of Water under conditions previous roof coverings were unable to cope with. The present invention therefore eliminates or reduces the need for removing snow and ice from a roof so as to avoid damage and abuse to the roof from such removal process and also eliminates the need for expensive water trapping attachments where severe water back-up conditions are anticipated.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with the installation of flexible shingles having flap portions to form a roof covering on a supporting surface, a method for sealing the roof covering against leakage of water backed up along a section of the roof covering because of the formation of an ice ridge thereon, comprising the steps of: forming notches in the edge portions of those shingles covering said section of the supporting surface; aligning the shingles along said section by means of said notches; raising the flap portion of each of said shingles for exposing the aligned notches; and laying continuous beads of water-resistant adhesive material from each of the exposed notches on surfaces of the shinglesexposed by raising of the flap portion; applying said adhesive material into said notches for connecting said beads to form a sealing path extending above the notches of the overlying shingles to provide a continuous, non-exposed sealing barrier concealed between the shingles.

2. In combination with a roof covering including a plurality of rows of overlapping shingles having flaps progressively spaced from a lower edge of a roof, means for preventing seepage of water through said roof covering from water backed up from said one edge comprising, passage means formed in adjacent edges of the shingles in each row, adhesive, water-resistant sealing material filling said passage means in contact with shingles underlying the adjacent edges of the shingles between which the passage means are formed, a plurality of continuous sealing strips formed between said rows of shingles, each sealing strip intersecting all of the passage means formed in an associated row of shingles to form a continuous sealing path extending above the passage means of overlying shingles whereby said sealing material filling the passage means together with the sealing strips form a continuous, non-exposed barrier against water seeping through the roof covering onto a supporting roof surface.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein each shingle includes a flap portion, at least one fastener underlying each flap portion and securing said underlying shingles to said supporting roof surface, said continuous sealing strip associated with the underlying shingles extending along said sealing path being disposed between the fastener and said lower edge of the roof and underlying the flap portions of the overlying shingles.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said passage means are formed by aligned notches cut between said 7 3 adjacent edges of the shingles disposed in abutting rela- References Cited by the Examiner tligfisto each other and closely spaced from the flap por- UNITED STATES PATENTS 5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said passage 2121372 6/1938 Tinker 50 243 X means are formed by aligned notches cut along the ad- 5 2194427 3/1940 Klrschbraun 5O 243 jacent edges of the shingles disposed in spaced relation 2300'488 11/1942 Cuno 50 243 to each other above the underlying shingles, said sealing 1 material filling the passage extending between the aligned CHARLES O CGNNELL Prlmay Examiner notches on the underlying shingles. JACOB SHAPIRO, EARL J. WITMER, Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH THE INSTALLATION OF FLEXIBLE SHINGLES HAVING FLAP PORTIONS TO FORM A ROOF COVERING ON A SUPPORTING SURFACE, A METHOD FOR SEALING THE ROOF COVERING AGAINST LEAKAGE OF WATER BACKED UP ALONG A SECTION OF THE ROOF COVERING BECAUSE OF THE FORMATION OF AN ICE RIDGE THEREON, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: FORMING NOTCHES IN THE EDGE PORTION OF THOSE SHINGLES COVERING SAID SECTION OF THE SUPPORTING SURFACE; ALIGNING THE SHINGLES ALONG SAID SECTION BY MEANS OF SAID NOTCHES; RASING THE FLAP PORTION OF EACH OF SAID SHINGLES FOR EXPOSING THE ALIGNED NOTCHES; AND LAYING CONTINUOUS BEADS OF WATER-RESISTANT ADHESIVE MATERIAL FROM EACH OF THE EXPOSED NOTCHES ON SURFACES OF THE SHINGLES EXPOSED BY RAISING OF THE FLAP PORTION; APPYLING SAID ADHESIVE MATERIAL INTO SAID NOTCHES FOR CONNECTING SAID BEADS TO FORM A SEALING PATH EXTENDING ABOVE THE NOTCHES OF THE OVERLYING SHINGLES TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS, NON-EXPOSED SEALING BARRIER CONCEALED BETWEEN THE SHINGLES. 